Ship hold with removable flooring structure



1956 H. KUMMERMAN SHIP HOLD WITH REMOVABLE FLOORING STRUCTURE 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1952 1956 H. KUMMERMAN SHIP HOLD WITHREMOVABLE FLOORING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7, 1952 1956H. KUMMERMAN SHIP HOLD WITH REMOVABLE FLOORING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Jan. 7, 1952 INVENTOK HENR] KvmmERMA/v 1956 H. KUMMERMAN SHIPHOLD WITH REMOVABLE FLOORING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet4 n m 4 7 5 6 M United States Patent SHIP HOLD WITH REMOVABLE FLOORINGSTRUCTURE Henri Kummerman, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Application January7, 1952, Serial No. 265,265 Claims priority, application France February16, 1951 6 Claims. (Cl. 114-72) The present invention essentiallyrelates to a removable platform providing an intermediate flooring forships holds and similar enclosures, and adapted to partition the holdinto several separate sections or compartments.

A platform according to this invention is characterised in that itconsists of at least one rank or series of aligned panels, the panels ineach rank being pivoted about a common axis which may form part of awall of the hold or similar enclosure to which the invention is applied,and at least one rank or series of parallel rolling panels, of theso-called quick-operating type, as generally used for the closure ofhatches on board ships, adjacent to the pivoted panels in their positionof use resting with their free edges upon girders or props which may ormay not be removable.

It will readily be understood that the platform can be easily openedsimply by displacing the rolling platforms to bring them to their stowedpositions.

Moreover, the over-all width of the platform is divided into as manysections as there are parallel series of panels used.

Each of the panels may therefore be provided with a comparatively smallwidth and this is especially true of the panels pivoted to the walls ofthe hold or on pivot shafts specially provided for the purpose. This isa very important advantage, first because of the resulting saving inspace, and second owing to the increased facilities in operation withinthe holds. The problem of stowing the rolling panels, regardless oftheir width, is solved in a manner similar to that used in the case ofordinary hatches. In the present instance, it will therefore be possibleto impart to such panels a width definitely smaller than that of thepivoted panels, without any difficulty, thus reducing the width of thepivoted panels. The pivoted panels will thus be small and consequentlyeasily operable.

For instance, supposing two sets of pivoted panels are used at theopposite sides of the hold and a set of rolling panels intermediate thepivoted ones, the rolling panels can easily be made with a width two orthree times greater than the pivoted panels.

Besides, the rolling panels can be displaced with great ease to open upa passage into the lower level of the hold and this can be done withouthaving to move the pivoted panels, which are of course cumbersome andunwieldy.

According to another feature of the invention, the free edges of thepivoted panel's comprise means serving as guides or runways for therolling panels.

In its simplest form of embodiment the invention may use a rank ofpivoted panels associated with an adjacent rank of rolling panels, thelatter having an edge thereof running on the runway provided by theedges of the pivoted panels and their opposite edges riding on a fixedor removably runway provided on the opposite side wall of the hold orupon suitable fixtures,

Where the platform is designed to extend across the hold from one sideto the other thereof, two ranks of ice pivoted panels may be providedone on each side'of the hold with an intermediate or central rank ofrolling panels ridingv on the free edges of the pivoted panels.

Where the removable platform does not extend across the opposite sidesof the hold, the panels may be pivoted either on two separate shaftsextending along the hold, or on one shaft and on one side Wall of thehold respectively.

It will be understood that rolling panels of any suitable type may beused in embodyingthe invention. For example, the rolling panels known inthe trade as Mac- Gregor panels may be employed.

The invention of course comprises any installations and holds arrangedequipped to the principles above set forth.

Further features of the invention will result from the ensuingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings, given exclusively by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a hold equipped accordingto the invention, with a platform extending across the held from oneside wall to the opposite one;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same hold with several hinged panels inthe. retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic section on line IIIIII of Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse cross-section of a ship with pivotedpanels in their retracted position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the panels raised to provide aplatform;

Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale of a hold illustrating theoperation of the pivoted panels;

Figure 7 is a plan sectional view of a modification;

Figure 8 is a corresponding longitudinal section;

Figure 9 is a section on line IX-IX of Figure 8.

In the exemplary construction illustrated, the hold 1 of a ship isdivided by two ideal vertical planes 2 and 3 into three compartments orsections 4, 5 and 6. Obviously the number of such sections isessentially arbitrary. According to the invention, a first series ofadjacent panels 7 are provided, pivoted on the side wall 8 of the hold.The pivotal connection is effected e. g. by means of hinges 9 (Fig. 4).

It is evident that these hinges 9 may be intended and adapted to connectthe panels, either directly with the ships hull, or with a shaftextending along and independently of said hull. Such structures may beexecuted in any well known manner and have not been further illustrated.

The section 6 adjacent to the opposite side wall 10 of the hold isprovided with panels 11 similar to the panels 7.

Vertical girders, or stanchions 12, are provided in the planes 2 and 3separating the hold sections 4, 5 and 5, 6. Y

The central or intermediate section 5 is closed at its top by panels 13of the quick-operating type. These panels are preferably of the typecapable of rolling and stowa-ble in vertical juxtaposed relation at oneend of the hold. These panels may advantageously be of the type known inthe trade as MacGregor panels. The panels shown in the drawings areinterconnected by suitable chains or cables, and belong to the typedescribed artd claimed in French Patent 976,386 filed December 10, 1948.

Such panels generally are fitted with rollers adapted to ride on theedges of the hatohway. In the present instance, runways may be providedon the free edges of the pivoted panels. In the drawings, each of thesepivoted panels 7, 11 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) is shown as having such a runwayformed thereon by a substantially horizontal steel element 14 supportedfor example by movable.

brackets 15. The rolling panels 13 are provided with rollers 16 ridingon these runway elements 14.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rolling panels 13 may be stowed insubstantially vertical condition at one end of the hold. For thispurpose, these panels are provided with pivots 17 cooperating withguides 18. The rolling panels may be operated by cables or similartransfer means of course with the help of the suitable guiding surfaces18. The operation of such cables is evident and besides described in theabove mentioned French patent. Generally two cables such as 19 areprovided and pulls exerted successively and externally in oppositedirections on said cables will cause the panels to cooperate with theguideway 20 and to be tilted in and out of the horizontal position.

The general operation of the panels 13 is identical with that of theusual hatch cover panels. For instance these panels are pulled bysuitable cables which cause them upon sliding on guide 18 to tilt aboutthe parts 17 and bring them into a horizontal position in which theyrest on rollers 16 and can be brought further so as to cover the openingbetween the two rows of panels 7.

It will appear from the disclosure that the arrangement according to theinvention provides a general platform which forms an intermediateflooring with only one opening through it, somewhat like a hatchway, andadapted to be closed by means similar to those used to close hatchways.

Moreover, the rolling panels 13 can be provided with a width greaterthan that of the pivoted panels 7. The latter are comparatively narrow,so as to be as convenient as possible to rock.

The manner in which the guideways 18 for the rolling panels 13 aresecured is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3. This may be effected,as shown, by means of reinforcing gusset-plates 20 secured to the endwalls 21 of the hold.

Fig. 6 illustrates on an enlarged scale the arrangement of thestanchions 127 These may be removable or fixed as desired. The drawingshows them as re- In the bottom of the hold, a socket 22 is providedinto which the foot of the girder 12 provided with a pair of projectingfingers 23 is inserted. The girder 12 is then rotated about its verticalaxis and pinned in position. The top of the girder or stanchion isinserted into a socket 24 provided on the under side of the panels 7,11.

The chain lines in Fig. 6 show the panels 7 in their collapsed position,which is the position used when the hold is to be laden in bulk withloose cargo. To bring the panels to their substantially horizontalposition, the cable 25, fastened at 26 is pulled. To load or unload thecargo heaped up at 4, it is only necessary to raise the panels 7 to theposition diagrammatically indicated at 7" in Fig. 6.

The panel or panels 7 which are adjacent plate 29 are correspondinglyarranged so as not to interfere with this latter during their movementtoward and from positions 7, 7' and 7".

If desired, means may be provided for latching the pivoted panels 7 intheir raised position. Thus, a member 27 may be provided in the form ofa hook pivoted at 28. A cable 29 is fastened to the hook at 30 andenables its being rocked about its pivot. The hook 27 cooperated with aflange or web 31 forming part of the panel 7.

The hoisting cable 25* of the panel is trained about a pulley 32 and aroller 33.

Operation of the device is simply described. After the panel has beenraised, the cables 25 and 29 are released. The panel bears by gravity onthe hook 27 and blocks it. To release the panel, it is merely necessaryto pull the cable 29.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the embodiment in which a narrow space isavailable in the hold. In such an instance use is made of but a singlerow of hinged panels 7 associated with a single row of rolling panels13. The mounting of the hinged panels on the ships hull may be of anyconventional nature. Figure 9 illustrates such a mounting. In this casethe ships hull 10 carries supporting members 40 adapted to carry hingeaxis 9.

While the drawing shows the arrangement of a stanchion for two adjacentpanels, different other arrangements may be adopted. Moreover, theinvention is in no Way restricted to the form of embodiment illustratedand described, given merely by way of example.

What I claim is:

1. In a ships hold having two side walls and a floor, a removableflooring structure comprising at least one panel hingedly connected atone edge thereof to one of the side walls of the hold and disposed in aplane generally parallel to and spaced from the floor of the hold, atleast a second panel hingedly connected at one edge thereof to the otherside wall of the hold and disposed generally in the plane of the firstpanel, retractible supporting means engaging said panels and supportingsaid panels in a substantially horizontal plane with the free edges ofthe panels in spaced apart relation, guiding means on the free ends ofsaid panels, a series of movable panels for filling in the space betweenthe free edges of said first and second panels, rollers on said seriesof paneis of a configuration and spacing to engage said guiding means,whereby said series of panels are supported in substantially the samehorizontal plane as said first and second panels to provide therewith afloor structure which is substantially parallel to and vertically spacedabove the floor of the hold.

2. Structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the roller mounted panels aresubstantially wider than the hinged panels.

3. In a ships hold having flooring structure as claimed in claim 1 andhaving end walls, horizontal supporting and storing means adjacent anend wall adjacent and generally parallel to the edges of said hingedlyconnected panels remote from the hinge and lying generally in saidplane, guide means on said support and storing means approximatelyaligned with the guiding means of said free ends of said hinged panelsand positioned to receive the rollers on said series of panels andthereby store the panels of said series.

4. In a ships hold having side Walls, a structure comprising at leastone series of aligned panels, hinge means securing one of the edges ofsaid panels to one of said side walls in generally a straight line,guide means on the other edge of each of said panels, retractableindependent supporting means engaging said panels supportting them insaid generally straight line, said panels when supported therebyconstituting a generally horizontal load supporting surface, and saidguide means coincidentally constituting a guideway, at least one seriesof panels each panel having roller means and pivot means mountedthereon, a second guideway supported within said hold in generally thesame plane as said load supporting surface and said first guideway,means in said hold, adjacent an end panel of said first series ofpanels, said adjacent means lying approximately in the plane of saidguide- Ways, said adjacent means formed with trackway surfaces, saidseries of panels including said roller and pivot means positioned onsaid trackway surfaces when in stored position, and transfer meansmoving said roller panels to horizontal position upon said guidewaysthereby to provide an additional load supporting surface in common withthat of the first mentioned panels.

5. Structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second guideway issupported by the other Wall of the hold.

6. Structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein means are provided forraising said hinged panels above their horizontal positions comprisingpulling means secured to the 5 hinged panels, means guiding said pullingmeans, means ,6 latching said hinged panels in their raised positionsand 9, control means for releasing said latching means. 2,619,066

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS615,369 661,785

2,150,763 Elliott Mar. 14, 1939 6 Whittelsey May 20, 1941 Posin Sept.21, 1943 Otter Nov. 25, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 5, 1949Great Britain Nov. 28, 1951

